Vin Diesel Explains Tension With Dwayne Johnson: "It Was Tough Love"

BY Erika Marie 11.2K Views
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Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, The Rock, Fast & Furious
Vin claims he was just trying to give The Rock a few pointers on how to improve his acting techniques.

As the latest Fast & Furious film remains the talk of Hollywood, Vin Diesel is taking a walk down memory lane. It was back in 2016 during the filming of the eighth movie when rumors spread that there was animosity on set between Vin and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. The wrestling icon-turned-acclaimed actor was taking on the role of Luke Hobbs, and after an encounter on set, he took to Instagram to call someone out.

"When you watch this movie next April and it seems like I’m not acting in some of these scenes and my blood is legit boiling — you’re right," Johnson wrote at the time. He later told Rolling Stone that he realized he and Vin were just different people with different "philosophies," and in a recent interview with Men's Health, Vin Diesel is sharing his side of the story.

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“It was a tough character to embody, the Hobbs character. My approach at the time was a lot of tough love to assist in getting that performance where it needed to be,” said Vin. “As a producer to say, ‘OK, we’re going to take Dwayne Johnson, who’s associated with wrestling, and we’re going to force this cinematic world, audience members, to regard his character as someone that they don’t know’ — Hobbs hits you like a ton of bricks.”

That took a lot of work. We had to get there and sometimes, at that time, I could give a lot of tough love,” he said. “Not Felliniesque, but I would do anything I’d have to do in order to get performances in anything I’m producing.” Fans weren't completely thrilled with Vin Diesel's assessment and made their opinions known. Check it out below.

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About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.